Mary Moss

Mary Moss (b. Louisville - d. Indianapolis, January 8, 2016) – Vocalist. While gigging in Indianapolis in 1958, Mary Moss from Louisville decided to make Indianapolis her home because of the city’s vibrant musical life. She soon became a popular singer though her appearances at the Thunderbird, Pink Poodle, Embers Lounge, the B & B Lounge, and Larue’s Supper Club. Early in her career, she and her husband were a popular lounge act called King (her husband’s name) and Mary. As a solo artist in the 1960s, she performed in nightclubs all over the country. Now a veteran of the stage, Moss is one of the most highly respected jazz vocalists in the city. Known for her class, stage presence, and friendly interactions with the audience, she is a consummative interpreter of standard tunes, with Billie Holiday’s “God Bless the Child” being her favorite. In the last two decades, she has functioned as the mentor to younger female musicians in the city. In fact, she has led the “Women of Jazz” in appearances at the Walker Theatre, the Indy Jazz Fest, and Animals and All That Jazz at the Indianpaolis Zoo. She is also a favorite at the Jazz Kitchen, the Chatterbox, and the Artsgarden of the Circle Center Mall. Of particular note, she sang for President Clinton during an Indianapolis visit. In 2003, she recorded a live album Lady with a Song at the Jazz Kitchen. A 2002 inductee of the Indianpolis Jazz Foundation Hall of Fame, Mary Moss made jazz recordings for the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Singing (Alpha Books, 2003) by Phyllis Fulford and Michael Miller.